Mike Philbrick Hamilton Canadian Financials Yield Maximizer ETF HMAX-T PARTIAL BUY Jul 30, 2025

Both hold financials,but ZWB uses covered calls. HMAX has performed a little better and offers a little more yield. ZWB writes only half the securities, so it takes in less yield, but gets more upside capture. The price return is 11% on ZWB in the past year vs. HMAX's 6%, but the total return is close. However, ZWB pays you you more of a yield. nearly 7%, but gives less growth. 

The base is around $14.50 an is making higher highs and higher lows. It's okay as long as the chart doesn't take out the last low.

They do a good job. It carries a basket of financials and does not use leverage. To generate their 14% yield, they write the options right at the money. So you get no or little upside in the stock itself.

It is fine for financials and provides a little insulation. He wouldn't go any higher than 10% on a single ETF in a sector.

Portfolio of the 6 big banks. Really high distribution, with a covered call strategy on the full 100% of the portfolio. Covered calls cap the upside to get income; they work in sideways markets or those slightly up or slightly down. Consider pairing this with ZEB.

Caught a lot of attention from DIY investors who are sorting by yield. Has amongst the highest yields ever seen, ~14-15%. When you see a double-digit yield, ask where it's coming from. Here, it's through very aggressive covered call writing. Gives you high yield today, but very little growth going forward; a tradeoff. Looking at total return over the long term, almost always underperform ETFs that don't use covered calls.

Best way to use this one is in concert with other forms of investment that will participate in a market rise, such as ZEB.

From Hamilton, a good company. But you have to take a close look at where the yield is coming from. If it's an outsized yield, there might be something going on. If it's from covered calls, he's all in favour. But there could be leverage, which he never uses.

Pays a high yield, perhaps too high. Covered call, so generate high income, but less upside.

He's bullish the Canadian banks. HMAX would complement the caller's covered call strategy.